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Opening Doors - Maria House and Teresa Shelter
At a Glance
- Emergency/Transitional housing services
- Serves women with or without children
About Us
Opening Doors is the nonprofit organization that operates Maria House and Teresa Shelter. Homeless women, alone or with children, come to us to help rebuild their lives. We provide goal setting and life skills training that will enable them to take care of themselves and achieve their full potential. Women are dependent when they come in…independent when they leave. Since 2000, Maria House has provided transitional housing, where residents can stay for as long as two years. In 2006, we opened Teresa Shelter. It offers the same transitional housing, as well as short-term emergency shelter services.
Mission
Empowering Women, Changing Lives Opening Doors uplifts and empowers women and children experiencing homelessness and poverty. Through housing, support, and comprehensive services, we collaborate with dynamic partners to provide hospitality, hope, and opportunity to over 5,000 women and their children. Our work builds a compassionate community and invests in a brighter future, helping women and their families overcome hardship, achieve self-sufficiency, and embark on paths to independence and success.
Basic Information
Phone
563-582-7480Address
2100 Asbury Road, Suite 8 Dubuque, Iowa 52001Director
Carol Gebhart
Director Email
cgebhart@openingdoorsdbq.orgSuccess Story
A Journey of Transformation: Starr's Success Story
On June 29, 2023, Starr and her daughter Kamryn took a courageous step by joining the Opening Doors program, determined to create a brighter future for themselves. From the very start, Starr embraced the opportunity to rebuild her life. She enrolled at Capri College, pursuing her dream of earning a cosmetology degree—laying the foundation for a promising career.
Starr’s journey is one of resilience and hard work. She successfully navigated through our emergency shelter and extended stay program, steadily saving and working toward her goals. Her dedication paid off when she achieved a major milestone: saving enough to secure her own apartment, providing a stable home for herself and Kamryn. But Starr’s progress doesn’t stop there. With the support of our community partners, she is now working toward another life-changing goal—obtaining her own vehicle. This will give her even more independence and the ability to support her family as she moves forward in her career.
We are incredibly proud of Starr's accomplishments and honored to support her as she continues to thrive. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and community support. We can’t wait to share more of Starr’s journey at our upcoming Attitude of Gratitude gala, where we’ll celebrate not just her, but all of the amazing women who are transforming their lives through the Opening Doors programs.
Fund Details
Fund Name
Opening Doors - Maria House and Teresa Shelter
Year Founded
2004
Type of Fund
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Opening Doors - Maria House and Teresa Shelter